Dennis Lehane's novel "Mystic River" is really two stories about three friends. As children, one of them, Dave, is kidnapped by two men while the other two stand by and watch. As adults, the three friends are brought together again when the daughter of one is murdered. One friend is a cop investigating the murder, while the other, Dave, is suspected of killing her. Dave's wife, Celeste, plays a critical role throughout the present-day story, and her character drives her behavior.

Advocate for Her Husband

Celeste is a nurturing presence for Dave, who is still struggling to overcome the trauma of the sexual abuse and kidnapping he experienced as a child. She is compassionate and tries to help him work through his anxiety and mood shifts. When Dave comes home covered in blood, she is suspicious but doesn't say anything to the authorities. When Jimmy becomes suspicious of Dave, Celeste tries to protect Dave by speaking to Jimmy on his behalf, explaining how he still struggles because of his abuse.

Skittish and Nervous

Throughout the book, Celeste is portrayed as a nervous personality. It is unclear if her nervousness is natural to her personality or if it is the result of dealing with Dave's erratic behavior. In some situations, her skittishness is natural, such as when Dave comes home covered in blood. However, her nervous behavior is often uncalled for by the situation. For example, she is often nervous around Jimmy, even though she has known him for years, and he is married to her cousin. His strong character and criminal past makes her act jumpy and apologetic.

Full of Doubts

Celeste is not a strong person. She is plagued by doubts throughout the novel, which makes it hard for her to make decisions or to trust the ones she makes. She questions Dave's story about the mugger but does not ask him aggressively, nor does she tell anyone about her doubts. She's not sure what to do. As tensions mount around the investigation of Katie's murder, Celeste finally confesses her fears to Jimmy and hesitantly tells him that she thinks Dave killed Katie. At no point does she show resolve, even in making this confession. There is always an undertone of doubt in her statements and her behaviors.

Quiet and Meek

Much of Celeste's character is put into stark definition through a comparison to her cousin Annabeth, who is married to Jimmy. Annabeth is strong, loyal and confident, and her character puts a light on Celeste's own meekness. This is exemplified when Annabeth tells Jimmy that he is a strong man who will do anything to protect his family, and that can never be wrong. She says it with the understanding that he may have killed Dave. In contrast, Celeste is unable to form any convictions, let alone stand by them, and her weakness leads her to confess her doubts about Dave to Jimmy. After Dave is killed, she searches for him unknowingly through the crowd at the parade while Annabeth watches. Celeste is lost in the crowd, and no one hears her -- a strong metaphor for her personality.

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About the Author

Maria Magher has been working as a professional writer since 2001. She has worked as an ESL teacher, a freshman composition teacher and an education reporter, writing for regional newspapers and online publications. She has written about parenting for Pampers and other websites. She has a Master's degree in English and creative writing.